The Thunder Court

Maya adjusted the stupid sequined top hat—part of her 'Great Gatsby' costume for Homecoming—when the first crack of **lightning** split the sky outside the gymnasium. Perfect. Just perfect.

She was already regretting agreeing to come. The social **pyramid** at Northwood High had her somewhere near the bottom, right above the kids who ate lunch in the library and below everyone who actually mattered. Jake Matthews was at the apex, naturally, currently dancing with Chloe in the center of the room while Maya hovered near the punch bowl like a permanent wallflower.

'Sick hat,' someone said.

Maya turned to see Leo from her AP Chem class, wearing a Frankensteinesque hair gel situation that defied physics. 'Thanks. My mom made me do this theme.' She gestured vaguely at her flapper dress.

'Me too,' Leo grinned. 'I'm supposed to be a 'Roaring Twenties gangster or something.' He adjusted his crooked fedora. 'I look more like a failed magician.'

Maya laughed, surprised. The DJ transitioned to a slow song, and Jake and Chloe started swaying dramatically. Everywhere else, couples paired off while the rest of them pretended to be super interested in their phones or the mysterious stain on the gym floor.

'Wanna dance?' Leo asked suddenly. 'Like, as a joke. Obviously.' He reddened. 'Unless you don't want to—I mean, it's totally cool if—'

'Sure,' Maya heard herself say. 'As a joke.'

They moved to the edge of the dance floor, awkwardly shuffling. Another bolt of **lightning** flashed through the windows, followed immediately by thunder that shook the bleachers.

'The gym roof better not leak,' Maya said, adjusting her **hat** as it threatened to slide off.

'That would be iconic,' Leo said. 'Homecoming cancelled due to actual sky falling.'

They were both laughing now, genuinely laughing, and somehow they weren't terrible at dancing. Maya's mom had signed her up for cotillion lessons in seventh grade, a fact she'd successfully repressed until now.

'You're actually good at this,' Leo said, surprised.

'Same,' Maya said. And she realized she didn't care about the social **pyramid** anymore, or where she ranked, or who was watching. She was just dancing.

The lights flickered. The storm raged outside. But for three minutes and twenty-seven seconds, Maya wasn't invisible anymore.

When the song ended, they stood there for a second, not moving.

'That was...' Leo started.

'Yeah,' Maya said.

'You wanna get some food? I heard they have those tiny sandwiches.'

Maya smiled, genuine this time. 'Lead the way.'